PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Soto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Eric Soto enters the cage!

Rizzo
vs
Soto

168 cm
23
152 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

179 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pedro Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eric Soto!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rizzo throws a right and a left that Soto avoids nicely.
Rizzo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rizzo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Soto tries to clinch but Rizzo is having none of it.
Soto throws a looping overhand right but Rizzo ducks down to avoid it.
Rizzo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rizzo throws a right hand that Soto ducks under and follows up with a left that Soto also avoids with ease.
Rizzo cracks Soto with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rizzo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Soto tries to clinch up but Rizzo circles away and keeps his distance.
Soto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Soto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rizzo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Soto somewhat.
Soto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rizzo throws a series of punches but Soto moves out of range.
Soto fails to land with a series of punches.
Soto misses with a hook. Rizzo ducked under it nicely.
Rizzo tests Soto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rizzo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Soto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rizzo tries to avoid it but Soto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rizzo to the ground. Rizzo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pedro Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Soto.
Rizzo moves out of range as Soto strikes.
Rizzo throws a series of punches but Soto moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Soto shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rizzo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Soto staying calm.
Rizzo wants to get back to his feet.
Rizzo is breathing heavily.
Rizzo defending against the ground and pound.
Rizzo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Soto.
Rizzo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rizzo is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Soto asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rizzo being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Soto gets a clinch.
Soto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Soto is working for takedown but Rizzo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Soto wants to break the clinch but can't.
Soto blocks an uppercut.
Soto goes for a takedown attempt but Rizzo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A head kick misses from Soto.
Rizzo tries to close the distance and clinch but Soto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rizzo fails to land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Rizzo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Horrible takedown by Soto or perhaps it was just good defense by Rizzo which made him look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto shoots in but Rizzo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rizzo throws a nice looking combination but Soto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A big right from Rizzo misses.
Rizzo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Soto counters with a left and a right that stings Rizzo.
Rizzo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Soto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rizzo as he avoids it easily.
Pedro Rizzo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Soto tries to close the distance and clinch but Rizzo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Soto lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Soto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rizzo stalks Soto and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Soto's face. Soto staggers backwards, shaken.
Soto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Soto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rizzo circles away from the clinch attempt
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Rizzo counters with a three punch combo that has Soto backing up. Soto nods at Rizzo to acknowledge the strikes.

Rizzo closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto tries to pull guard but Rizzo won't allow it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rizzo.
Soto is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rizzo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Soto has Rizzo pressed against the cage, preventing Rizzo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rizzo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Soto.
Soto drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rizzo has a couple of punches blocked by Soto.
Soto is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rizzo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Soto wants a takedown but no success here.
Soto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rizzo walks away with a smile on his face. Soto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rizzo scores with a one two! Soto had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eric Soto will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Soto swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rizzo counters with a one-two to the body.
Soto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rizzo is fending him off so far but Soto persists. Nope, Rizzo circles away and we're back to standing.

Rizzo pushes Soto up against the cage in a clinch.
Rizzo is pressed up against the cage. Soto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rizzo down to the mat. Rizzo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rizzo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Soto backs up against the cage.
Soto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Soto tries to clinch there but Rizzo circles away.
Pedro Rizzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Soto throws a hook but Rizzo avoids it easily.
Rizzo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Soto counters with a left and a right that stings Rizzo.
Rizzo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Soto.
Pedro Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Soto.
A combination from Rizzo does no damage.
Soto wants to clinch up but Rizzo keeps it at a distance.

Rizzo closes the distance and pushes Soto back into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rizzo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rizzo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Soto tries to pull guard but Rizzo holds him up against the cage and eventually Soto drops back down to his feet.
Soto looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto is trying to break free.
Soto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Soto drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rizzo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rizzo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Soto.
A shot in the inside from Rizzo.
Soto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rizzo smiles and moves away.
Soto misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rizzo gets caught flat footed, as Soto shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Soto looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rizzo has his feet on Soto's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Soto misses with a looping left.
Soto fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rizzo avoids it really well and circles away.
Rizzo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Soto shoots for a takedown but Rizzo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rizzo leaves Soto with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A swing and a miss from Soto.

Rizzo closes the distance and clinches.
Soto fails to pull guard.
Rizzo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Soto tries to break free but Rizzo pushes him back against the cage.
Soto changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rizzo fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Soto throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rizzo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Soto feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Soto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rizzo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Soto won't allow Rizzo to get back to his feet.
Soto looking to pass the guard.
Soto trying to control the position from guard on top but Rizzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rizzo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rizzo is looking to stand up but Soto isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Soto stands and throws Rizzo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Soto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Soto sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rizzo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Soto looks to clinch

and Rizzo counters by moving into the clinch.
Soto blocking some punches.
Soto tries to pull guard but Rizzo won't allow it.
Rizzo working hard to break the clinch.
Soto wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Soto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Soto wants a takedown.
Soto tries to throw a body punch but Rizzo avoids it by throwing Soto back against the cage.
Soto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rizzo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Soto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rizzo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pedro Rizzo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rizzo stuffs the takedown attempt from Soto. Soto gets slowly back to his feet.
Rizzo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rizzo fails to land with a series of punches.
Soto tries to clinch but Rizzo moves out of range.
Rizzo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Soto is looking to clinch but Rizzo is avoiding it.
Soto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Soto looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Soto wants to pass the guard but Rizzo is defending well.
Soto thows a huge punch but Rizzo dodges it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soto not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Soto takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto passes the guard and advances to mount!
Soto throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Soto thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Soto throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Soto misses with a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Soto tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Soto throwing strikes here but Rizzo is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Rizzo avoids a series of strikes thrown by Soto.
Rizzo is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Soto trying to control but Rizzo is having none of it.
Soto punishing his opponent with strikes.
Rizzo blocking the ground and pound.
Soto thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Rizzo blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rizzo is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Rizzo is squirming around, avoiding Soto's attempts to control the action.
Soto with a couple of short strikes.
Rizzo is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Rizzo avoids a series of strikes thrown by Soto.
A nice elbow there by Soto.
Rizzo trying desperately to get to his feet.
Poor strikes thrown by Soto there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Rizzo holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Soto tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Soto working for a guillotine from mount but Rizzo is in no mood to give up.
Soto working Rizzo over with strikes here.
Rizzo wants to get back to his feet.
Soto throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Soto sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soto sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Soto misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Soto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Soto has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Suge Night scores the fight for Eric Soto!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Eric Soto!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Eric Soto!

Eric Soto wins by unanimous decision!